Kayla Montgomery was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was in high school but this didn’t stop her from doing what she loves to do – running. She was a slow runner at first who gradually became a part of the varsity and then one of the best long distance runner in America. She would collapse every after race because once her body couldn’t contain the heat, it will the trigger the short circuit in her nerves. which would start with a tingling sensation on her feet all the way up to her waist, ’til her legs feel numb.

It’s amazing how she views life and persevere despite of her condition. I think, a normal person like me who complains a lot about simple things most of the time should learn from her.

Going beyond your limit is not easy but having regrets when you’re on your deathbed is a lot more painful because it’s irreversible. We can never win over time but we can make the most out of it.

“I just hope to run as long as I can and make the most out of it as long as I can. When I’m not able to run at some point down the road then at least I can look back and know that when I could, I gave ’em my all.” – Kayla Montgomery

When I was about eight or nine, my mom liked to cook food and every now and then I remember she used to cook for us.

One night that stood out in my mind is when she had made dinner for us after a very long and rough day at work, She placed a plate of jam and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. Not slightly burnt but completely blackened toast.

I was just waiting to see if anyone noticed the burnt toast and say anything. But Dad just ate his toast and asked me if I did my homework and how my day was. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my mom apologizing to dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said:

“Sweetie, I love burned toast.”

Later that night, I went to tell my dad good night and ask him if he really liked his toast burned. He put his arm on my shoulder and said,

“Your momma put in a very long day at work today and she was very tired. And besides, A burnt toast never hurts anyone but you know what does? Harsh words!”

The he continued to say “You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like every other human. But what I’ve learned over the years, is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys for creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. Life is too short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right and have compassion for the ones who don’t.”

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Sometimes, we learn life lessons in random stories like this.

If I had been served a burnt bread after a long hard day of work, I would’ve turned into a hulk but the Dad in the story is different. The anger did not reign because he thought of love first. It’s amazing how love could turn ugly things beautiful.

“Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl madly in love with each other. The boy left and promised the girl that he will come back for her. Days, months, weeks and years went by and the girl waited. She grew up, grew old and went grey, but she never heard of the boy again. “

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I am not a fan of waiting. I do believe though that there are a few things that we need to wait for. At a certain gestation period, that is. But waiting for your entire life is just way another story.

I believe in true love. But I don’t believe in One true love. I believe we can have many true loves. Of course, we don’t marry all of them.

I begin tucking him into bed and he tells me, “Daddy check for monsters under my bed.” I look underneath for his amusement and see him, another him, under the bed, staring back at me quivering and whispering, “Daddy there’s somebody on my bed.”